African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) Sub-Hub

Wangari Tharao is the Director of Research and Programs at Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, as well as a recognized community-based researcher. Her work centres on health and HIV issues relevant to women living in Canada who have migrated from countries with generalized HIV epidemics, especially Africa and the Caribbean. Wangari is also a recognized HIV/health advocate and has co-founded several local, provincial, national and international networks to support the development of effective responses to HIV and AIDS to support ACB women, including The African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario (ACCHO); The Canadian HIV/AIDS African, Black and Caribbean (CHABAC) Network; and the African and Black Diaspora Global Network on HIV and AIDS (ABDGN). From 2018-2020, Wangari served as one of the two North American representatives on the NGO Delegation of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB). Alongside her work with the WCHC Hub, Wangari is currently serving as a member of the Black Expert Working Group whose aim is to provide advice to the Canadian National HIV/AIDS Surveillance System on the collection of comprehensive race-disaggregated data and rebuilding of trust. 

Dr. Notisha Massaquoi is a distinguished advocate with over three decades of work advancing women's healthcare in Canada. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, Dr. Massaquoi founded the Black Health Equity Lab through which she facilitates the development of advocacy tools, strategies, and programs aimed at enhancing health outcomes, well-being, and success within Canadian systems for Black communities. Her academic journey, including a PhD in Social Justice Education, is complemented by leadership roles in various health service organizations, notably for two decades as the Executive Director of Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre. Globally consulted by the United Nations Social Development Forum on racism's impact on workforces, Dr. Massaquoi is esteemed as one of Canada's foremost experts in building equity-responsive organizations.